Automatic seaming mechanism for conduits



Oct. 4, 1966 M. J. KOPKE 3,276,408

AUTOMATIC SEAMING MECHANSM FOR CONDUITS Filed May 14, 1963 5 SheetS-Shee\I l /27 INV ENTORI MICHAEL J. KOPKE ATTORNEYS Oct. 4, 1966 M. J. KOPKE 3,276,408

AUTOMATIC SEAMING MECHANISM FOR CONDUITS Filed May 14, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.'

72 74 MICHAEL J.KOPKE ATTORNEYS Oct. 4, 1966 M. J. KOPKE AUTOMATIC SEAMING MECHAISM FOR CONDUITS 3 Shee ts-Sheet 5 Filed May 14, 1963 INVENTOR.' MICHAEL J. KOPKE 25 Wed/'44% ATTORNEYS United States Patent Glitice 3,276,408 Patented IOct. 4, 1966 3,276,408 AUTOMATIC SEAMING MECHANISM FOR CONDUITS Michael J. Kopke, 8474 Macomb St., Grosse Ile, Mich. Filed May 14, 1963, Ser. No. 280,215 2 Claims. '(Cl. 113-54) My invention relates generally to a means for fabricating air conduits made of deformable material such as sheet metal, and more particularly to a mechanism for establishing a seam which joins together two side members of a rectangular conduit to form a con-tinuous enclosure for accommodating the transfer of air in heating and air conditioning installations or the like.

It -is common practice to form a rectangular conduit by joining the edges of the conduit metal lby deforming one edge over the other in overlapping relationship to establish a lock. The edges of the metal can be prepared for the seaming operation by bending them to form re-entrant margins. The edge of one side of the duct is formed with a so-called S configuration and the edge of the other duct side is bent to a right angle position. The right angle edge then is received within the cooperating `folds of the adjacent edge of the one side. The final step in the seaming operation is accomplished by hammering the extended end of the S-shaped fold over the perpendicularly extending margin of the other edge thereby forming la so-called Pittsburgh Lock. This manual seaming operation is time consuming and is not readily adapted for ecient high production manufacturing operations.

My improved seaming mechanism enables the operator to complete the nal seaming openation in an efiicient fashion and the result-ing seam is of a uniform high quality.

The provision of an improved seamer of the 4type above `set forth being a principal object of my invention, it is a further object of my invention to provide a seaming mechanism for carrying out the final seam-ing step in an operation of this `type and which includes metal deforming elements tha-t are powered by an external power source such as an electric drill motor or any similar motor that normally would be available in a sheet metal fabricating shop.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a seamer of the type above set forth and which may be operated without the necessity for special skills or training on the part of the operator.

I contemplate that the principles of my invention can be employed in performing seaming operations on circular conduits although the particular embodiment disclosed in this specication is adapted particularly to be used with rectangular shaped conduits.

For the purpose of describing my invention more particularly, reference will be made to the accompanying dra-wings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows la bottom View of my improved seamer mechanism as viewed along the plane of section line 1-1 of FIG. 3,'

FIG. 2 is a top view of the structure of FIG. l as viewed along the plane of section line 2*2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a rear view taken along the plane of section line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of section line 4-4 o-f FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of section line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

Referring first Ito 'FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, numeral 10 designates generally a casing having an interior cavity 12. This cavity is formed with an open end that is :closed by a closure plate 14. Bolts 16 are employed for securing the plate 14 to the body 10.

A circular opening 18 is formed in body 10 and is situated at an angle with respect to the principal axes of the body 10, as best seen in FIG. 3. Journalled within this opening 1-8 is a `Worm 20 having a lirst extension 22 and a second extension 24 for supporting the same. Extension 22 is disposed within :a bushing 26, which is received within a cooperating reduced diameter bore that communicates with opening 18. Extension 24 is journalled within an opening 28 for-med in a Ibearing insert 30, the latter lbeing received within a bearing opening 32 which forms a continuation of the opening 18.

Extension 24 has situated at its extended end a shaft 34 that may 'be gripped by chuck which in turn can Ibe :powered by a drill motor or some other suitable power source.

Worm 20 drivably engages a worm gear 36 which is mounted yfor rotation about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the worm 20. Worm gear 36 is mounted upon a supporting shaft 38 and is fixed thereto by means of a set screw 39. Shaft 30 in turn is journalled by means of bushing `40 within an opening 42 formed in housing 10.

Worm gear 36 is received within a recess 44 formed in vthe base of recess 12. This recess is closed by means of a closure plate 46 which is secured to the housing 10 at the base of the recess 12 by screws 48.

Shaft 34 extends outwardly through an opening 50 in the plate 46. It has secured thereto a bevel gear 52 which is drivably connected to shaft 38 by means of a set screw 54 Bevel gear 52 drivably engages another bevel gear 56 -to define a right angle drive. Gear 56 is connected by means of a set screw 58 to `a bevel gear mounting shaft `60. This shaft is end supported by fmeans of bushings 60 and `62 which in turn are received within bearing openings `64 and `66, respectively. These openings are disposed in aligned relationship on opposite sides of the recess 12.

For purposes of clarity, in the view of FIG. 3.

Secured to the end of shaft 56 is a wheel 68 which is formed with a serrated periphery 70. The angle formed by the periphery is approximately 45 and it registers with another serrated wheel 72 that is mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of shaft 60. This wheel 72 also is formed with a serrated periphery 74 having an angle of approximately 45 The serrations extend radially as indicated in FIG. 1.

Wheel 7.2 is mounted upon a threaded shaft 76 which is received within a cooperating opening formed in the center of the wheel 72. This pin 76 includes a tion 78 which is received Within a cooperating threaded opening 80 formed in an adaptor 82. 'This adaptor in turn is received within a cooperating opening 84 formed the plate 14 has been removed in plate 14. The adaptor is held in place by means of -a set screw 86 threadedly received within a transverse threaded opening.

A sp-acer 88 may be provided as shown so that a clamping disc 90 may register with it las indicated. This disc 90 is held in place by a screw 92. The adaptor 82 then is held axially fast within the plate 14. Set screw 86 prevents rotary motion of the adaptor 82.

As seen best in FIG. 5, the plate 14 is formed with a cavity 94 which rece-ives a roller 96. This roller is mounted upon a threaded shaft 98 having a threaded portion 100 threadably received within a cooperating threaded opening in the plate 14. The axis of the roller 96 is angularly disposed with respect to the principal axes of the mechanis-m, as indicated best in FIG. 1.

The outer surface of the plate 14 is formed with a recess 102 having a depth that is approximately equal .to the depth of the sheet metal of the duct with which the mechanism will be used.

Shown in FIG. 6 is a typical seam that connects two perpendicularly disposed sides of a sheet metal conduit. The edge of one side 104 is formed with a rst oifset portion 106, a second re-entrant portion 108 and a nal marginal portion 110. These portions 106, 108 and 110 are situated in the form of an S.

The other cooperating side 112 of the conduit is formed with a right angle portion 114. This bend can be formed in the usual fashion by means of a blending machine. The same bending machine can be used to form the re-entrant folds of the sheet metal side 104.

The edge portion 110 ofthe side 104 extends upwardly as indicated in FIG. 6 prior to the nal seaming operation. 1t may be folded downwardly, however, by employing my improved mechanism so that it assumes the position indicated by means of dotted lines in FIG. 6. The final product is indicated in FlIG. 5.

The plate 14 is formed also with a recessed portion 116 on the left hand side of the serrated Wheels 68 and 72. Disposed within this recess 116 is a pair of guide elements 11-8 and 120. Guide element 118 is bolted to the base of the recess 116 by screws 122 and element 120 is bolted in place by screws 124. Situated between the elements 118 and 120 is a gap 126. This gap is adapted to receive the edge portion 110 of the conduit part 104, as best indicated in FIG. 1.

During operations the shaft 34 is driven by a suitable prime mover as indicated previously. This causes worm gear 36 to rotate. This rotation is transferred to shaft 60 through the bevel gear drive shown at 50 and 56. This in turn powers the serrated wheel 68.

If the seamer is placed in the position shown in FIG. 5, the extended margin 110 of the conduit pant 104 will be engaged by the serrated peripheries of the wheels 68 and 72. The seamer then will move along the edge of the conduit and the marginal portion 110 of the part 104 then will be driven through the cooperating marginal parts of the serrated wheels 68 and 7t2. As this occurs, the edge 110 will be bent at an angle of approximately 45, which corresponds to the angle of the peripheries of the serrated wheels. The seamer, however, will continue to drive along the edge of the c-onduit since the power source is applied continuously. The bent edge 110 then will be engaged by the roller 96. The operator applies pressure to the top of the seamer which causes the roller 96 to compress the edge 110 into the position shown in FIG. 5 as the seamer mechanism passes over it.

Secured to plate 14 is a plate 127 which is formed with a pair of spaced parallel brackets 1'28 and 130. A clamping arm 132 is pivoted to these brackets 128 and 130` by means of a pivot pin 134. If desired, the arm 132 can be provided with an elongated opening 136 through which ,the pin 134 is received. A biasing spring 138 can be situated within an opening 140 in the clamping arm 132 and an adjusting pin 144 can be used to vary the degree of tension of the spring 138. The pin 144 in turn can be adjusted by means of a set screw 146.

vOne end of the arm 132 is formed with a tapered surface 148 situated at an angle of approximately 45. A beveled clamping wheel 150 is journalled upon the surface 148 by means of a screw 152.

Arm 132 can pivot about the pin 134. Movement in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, is limited by a stop 154 that is adapted to engage a cooperating shoulder formed on the brackets 128 and 130.

When the arm 132 is in the position shown, the edge 156 of the wheel 150 engages the adjacent margin of the tolded portions 108 and 110y of the conduit part 104. The arm 13'2 may be locked in this position by means of a cam 158 that is pivoted by means of 4a threaded pin 160 upon the plate 127. Plate 127 is secured to the plate 14 by `means of screws 162.

If the cam 158 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, it will disengage the arm 132 thereby allowing the latter to rotate. This permits the wheel 150 to move yout of engagement with the margin of the seam. However, when the cam 158 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, its cam surface 164 will engage the arm 1312 thereby locking it in place. Both positions are indicated in FIG. 3, the locking position being indicated by full lines and the release position being shown by dotted lines.

During operation of the seamer, the arm 132 is locked in place. This guides the mechanism and assists in the nal bending operation that is performed by the roller 96.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by U.S. Letters Patent is:

1. A seamer mechanism comprising a body, a pair of engagable beveled wheels mounted at the base of said body, a driving shaft, a geared connection between said driving shaft and one of said wheels, guide shoulders located at said base and extending toward the region of engagement of said wheels, said shoulders being adapted to guide theV margin of a side of a sheet metal conduit through sai-d engagement region, a pressure element located adjacent said wheels with a sheet metal engaging surface thereof being located substantially to the plane of said base, a looking element in the form of an arm pivotally mounted for oscillation in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of said base, a shoulder carried by said locking element which is engageable with a marginal portion of another side of said conduit during a seaming operation, said geared connectionl comp-rising a worm connected .to said driving shaft, an opening formed in said body for receiving said worm and rotatably supporting the same, a worm gear located within said body in engagement with said worm, a first bevel gear drivably connected to said Worm gear, and a second bevel gear mounted for rotation about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of said rst bevel gear, said one wheel being connected drivably to said second bevel gear.

2. A seamer mechanism comprising a body, a pair of engagable beveled wheels mounted at the base of said body, the peripheries of said wheels having serrations thereon, a driving shaft, a geared connection between said driving shaft and one of said wheels, guide shoulders located at said base and extending toward the region of engagement of said wheels, said shoulders being adapted to guide the margin of one side of a sheet metal conduit through said engagement region, said margin being deformed upon passing through said engagement region at an angle that is substantially equal to the bevel angle of said wheels, a roller mounted rotatably in said body and having a surface that is located substantially in the plane of the base of said body, said surface being eng-agable with said margin whereby said margin is pressed over the margin of an adjacent side of said conduit to establish a locking seam, a locking element in the form of an arm pivotally mounted for oscillation in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of said base, a shoulder carried by said looking element which is engagable with a marginal por- 5 tion of another side of said conduit during the seaming operation, said geared connection comprising a Worm conneeted to said driving shaft, an opening formed in said body for receiving said Worm and rotatably supporting the same, a worm gear located within said body in engagement with said worm, a first bevel gear dr-ivably connected to said worm gear, a second bevel gear mounted for rotation about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of said rst bevel gear, said one wheel being connected drivably to said second bevel gear.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,912;128 5/1933 Deacon et al 113-55 1,976,148 10/1934 Sonntag 113-55 2,160,336 5/1939 Maxeld 113-55 3,015,293 1/1962 Parham 11S-54 CHARLES W. LAN'HAM, Primarry Examiner. RICHARD I. HERBST, Examiner. 

1. A SEAMER MECHANISM COMPRISING A BODY, A PAIR OF ENGAGABLE BEVELED WHEELS MOUNTED AT THE BASE OF SAID BODY, A DRIVING SHAFT, A GEARED CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID DRIVING SHAFT AND ONE OF SAID WHEELS, GUIDE SHOULDERS LOCATED AT SAID BASE AND EXTENDING TOWARD THE REGION OF ENGAGEMENT OF SAID WHEELS, SAID SHOULDERS BEING ADAPTED TO GUIDE THE MARGIN OF A SIDE OF A SHEET METAL CONDUIT THROUGH SAID ENGAGEMENT REGION, A PRESSURE ELEMENT LOCATED ADJACENT SAID WHEELS WITH A SHET METAL ENGAGING SURFACE THEREOF BEING LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE PLANE OF SAID BASE, A LOCKING ELEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR OSCILLATION IN A PLANE THAT IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID BASE, A SHOULDER CARRIED BY SAID LOCKING ELEMENT WHICH IS ENGAGEABLE WITH A MARGINAL PORTION OF ANOTHER SIDE OF SAID CONDUIT DURING A SEAMING OPERATION, SAID GEARED CONNECTION COMPRISING A WORM CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVING SHAFT, AN OPENING FORMED IN SAID BODY FOR RECEIVING SAID WORM AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE SAME, A WORM GEAR LOCATED WITHIN SAID BODY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WORM, A FIRST BEVAL GEAR DRIVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID WORM GEAR, AND A SECOND BEVAL GEAR MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS THAT IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID FIRST BEVAL GEAR, SAID ONE WHEEL BEING CONNECTED DRIVABLY TO SAID SECOND BEVAL GEAR. 